Our Board
The Board is responsible for the governance activities of the service, deriving its authority from the Hospital and Health Boards Act 2011 and the Hospital and Health Boards Regulation 2023.
There is a clear distinction between the strategic role of the Board and the operational role of the Executive. The Board controls the service for which it is established, whilst the Chief Executive and leadership team are responsible for implementing the Board’s directions and for the day-to-day management of the service.
The functions of the Board include:
- developing the strategic direction and priorities for the operation of MNHHS
- monitoring the compliance and performance
- ensuring safety and quality systems are in place which are focused on the patient experience, quality outcomes, evidence-based practice, education and research
- developing plans, strategies and budgets to ensure the accountable provision of health services
- ensuring risk management systems are in place and overseeing the operation of systems for compliance and risk management reporting to stakeholders
- establishing and maintaining effective systems to ensure that the health services meet the needs of the community.
The Board has eight independent members who bring a wealth of skills and knowledge across public, private and not-for-profit sectors with a range of clinical, health and business experience.
The following committees support the functions of the Board, each operates with a terms of reference describing the purpose, role, responsibilities, composition, structure and membership:
- Executive Committee terms of reference
- Safety and Quality Committee terms of reference
- Finance and Performance Committee terms of reference
- Risk and Audit Committee terms of reference
- Board Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples Health Equity Committee terms of reference
- Board Consumer & Community Engagement Committee terms of reference
Board Members
Metro North Health welcomes new Board members appointed from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2030 including Christopher Blue, Abi Cheadle, Professor Peter Hopkins and Professor Michael Cleary PSM.
BBus (QUT), FCA, FAICD, FTIA
Board Chair and Chair, Executive Committee
Appointed: 18 May 2018
Current term: 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2030
Chair, Finance and Performance Committee 18 May 2018 to 31 May 2020
Chair, Risk and Audit Committee 31 May 2020 to 31 March 2024
Bernard Curran is a Chartered Accountant and has practised in the areas of taxation and business advisory for a range of clients and industry sectors including healthcare.
He retired as a Partner of BDO on 30 June 2021 after 30 years and continues with the firm in a consulting role. Bernard has held directorships on a number of private company boards and serves as chair and a member of a number of Advisory Boards.
Bernard holds a Bachelor of Business – Accountancy from QUT. During 2017 he was appointed an Executive in Residence – Visiting Fellow for the Accountancy School at QUT. He is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand, a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and Fellow of the Taxation Institute of Australia.
Bernard has been actively involved in serving on not-for-profit Boards. He was the Chair of Crèche and Kindergarten Association Limited from 2012 to 2017. He also served as a Director of Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority during 2014 and 2015.
He became a Director of The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation in 2008 and became Chair of its Board in 2012 until December 2018. In 2017, he was appointed to the Board of Governors of the Queensland Community Foundation. In 2022, he joined the Management Committee of Caxton Legal Centre.
MBBS, FRACGP, GAICD
Deputy Board Chair and Chair, Safety and Quality Committee
Appointed: 1 April 2022
Current term: 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2030
Dr Melissa (Meg) Cairns is a Specialist General Practitioner with over 25 years’ experience, currently practising in Ashgrove. Prior to that, she worked in Queensland Health Hospitals in Brisbane and Maryborough, and in General Practice in Brisbane and Toowoomba.
Meg is also a GP Liaison Officer with Metro North Health, Chair of the Brisbane North Primary Health Network (PHN) Clinicians’ Advisory Group and a Member of the Brisbane North PHN Clinical Council.
Meg is a member of a number of Metro North Health and Queensland Health committees including the Queensland Maternal and Perinatal Quality Council, and the Queensland Paediatric Quality Council. Meg is passionate about improving patient care through collaboration across health sectors and through effective communication and education.
Meg holds a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery from the University of Queensland, is a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Member
Appointed: 1 April 2026
Current term: 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2030
With more than 30 years’ experience in corporate advisory, governance and complex stakeholder environments, Abigail is recognised for her ability to navigate organisations through transformation, financial distress and strategic repositioning.
She has held senior executive and board roles across multiple jurisdictions, bringing deep expertise in restructuring, corporate finance, risk and organisational performance. Her career has centred on strengthening governance frameworks, building high‑performing multidisciplinary teams, and supporting boards and executives to make disciplined, future‑focused decisions.
Abigail’s experience includes serving on boards and committees of government owned corporations and departments, where she has contributed to public sector governance, risk oversight and strategic reform. She has also held roles with ASX‑listed entities, providing commercial insight, financial stewardship and governance discipline in highly regulated environments. This combination of public and listed‑company experience underpins her ability to operate confidently across diverse regulatory, political and commercial contexts.
Known for her commitment to integrity, clarity and purposeful leadership, she brings to the Metro North Health Board a blend of commercial acumen, governance discipline and a deep understanding of complex organisational systems.
Member
Appointed: 1 April 2026
Current term: 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2030
Christopher Blue is a lawyer and has practised in the areas of real estate and government services for the Queensland Government, Commonwealth Government and for private sector clients.
Chris has advised on major urban regeneration, property development and infrastructure projects for over 35 years. He has also provided advisory services in relation to governance and probity matters for both government and the private sector.
He retired as a partner of international law firm Herbert Smith Freehills on 30 April 2023 after 29 years and continues with the firm in a consultancy role.
Chris holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from QUT and was admitted to Supreme Court of Queensland as a solicitor in 1990.
Chris has been actively involved in serving not for profit organisations. He is currently a Member of School Council at the Anglican Church Grammar School and is a director of the Churchie Foundation Ltd.
Member and Board Representative of RBWH Foundation
Appointed: 1 April 2024
Current term: 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2028
Hon. Jane Prentice is a former Australian politician who served as a member of the House of Representatives from 2010 to 2019, representing the Division of Ryan in Queensland. In 2016 Jane was appointed to serve as the Assistant Minister for Social Services with specific responsibility for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
Prior to her election to Federal Parliament, Jane served for 10 years as a Councillor for the Brisbane City Council ward of Walter Taylor. She was also Leader of the Opposition and in 2006 Jane was appointed by the Lord Mayor to chair the City’s Water and Sewerage Infrastructure Assets Review. In 2008 Jane was appointed to Civic Cabinet to Chair Public and Active Transport and Economic Development for Brisbane City Council. Jane is also President of Tennis Queensland.
Jane is passionate about using the skills gleaned from years in private enterprise and her extensive political network to support her many voluntary roles including the Queensland Eye Institute Foundation, Zonta International and Friends of BUSHkids. Jane is also the President of Scouts Queensland. For the last three years Jane has served as a member of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.
Before entering public life, Jane owned and managed a successful convention and event management firm and was responsible for organising many of Queensland’s largest events.
MBBS, FACEM, EMDM, MClinEd, DrPH, EMBA(Hons), GAICD
Member and Chair, Finance and Performance Committee
Appointed: 1 April 2024
Current term: 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2028
Dr Peter Aitken has a background as an Emergency Physician with additional qualifications in clinical education, disaster health and business administration, and most recently was the Executive Director of the Disaster Management Branch in Queensland Health.
He has a long history in emergency and disaster health; across operations and service delivery, teaching and research, and management. He has also served with multiple academic programs, professional committees and research groups within Australia and overseas including as Adjunct Professor with QUT, the World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine (board member and Vice President), and as Chief Medical Officer for St John Ambulance Australia. He was a leader within his organisation and across government for the duration of the global COVID-19 pandemic, providing clarity, direction and perspective to colleagues and counterparts alike through a variety of roles such as Deputy Chief Health Officer and briefly as Chief Health Officer.
Peter’s strength is bringing people and agencies together to contribute to the goal of keeping communities safe and healthy.
Member
Appointed: 1 April 2026
Current term: 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2030
Professor Peter Hopkins has worked in Metro North for over 23 years as a Consultant within the Thoracic Program at The Prince Charles Hospital (TPCH) and has been Clinical Director of the Queensland Lung Transplant Service since 2007. He is Professor with the School of Medicine, The University of Queensland with over 140 publications and was Executive Director, Heart-Lung Clinical Stream from March 2020 to January 2026. Professor Hopkins is the co-founder of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander outreach services, HOPE* and UROC**, which provide cardiac and respiratory ambulatory services to the northern corridor of Metro North. He is the incoming President of the International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation, headquartered in Chicago, USA.
*HOPE – Heart Outreach Program for Health Equity
**UROC – Urban Respiratory Outreach Clinic
Board meeting summaries
The Board publishes a summary of the key points discussed and decisions made at each meeting. The summaries highlight key points discussed and any decisions that were made by the board. They do not form or represent any part of the minutes of the meeting.
- 2026 meeting summaries
- 2025 meeting summaries
- 2024 meeting summaries
- 2023 meeting summaries
- 2022 meeting summaries
- 2021 meeting summaries
- 2020 meeting summaries
- 2019 meeting summaries
- 2018 meeting summaries
- 2017 meeting summaries
- 2016 meeting summaries
- 2015 meeting summaries
- 2014 meeting summaries
- 2013 meeting summaries
Contact us
Metro North Board
Located: Level 14, Block 7
Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital
HERSTON QLD 4029
Phone: (07) 3647 9702
Email: MNBFeedback @health.qld.gov.au